THE MEDLOC ROUTE - SEPTEMBER 1950
Travel Guide for Draft on the Journey from the Hook of Holland to Middle East via Villach & Trieste
SOUTHBOUND JOURNEY
1. You will depart from Hook of Holland at 14:15 hrs and proceed through Holland to the Frontier Control Point at DALHEIM where you arrive at 18:25 hrs.
2. At DALHEIM the train crosses into GERMANY and at 20:08 hrs arrive at KREFELD where you will detrain and can avail yourself to the ablution (Hot water is available). The train leaves again at 20:58 hrs.
3. During the evening you will stop at COLOGNE 21:49 hrs. Cologne is under the control of the BELGIAN ARMY, we will not detrain. This city was extensively damaged by bombing during the last war.
4. At 22:42 hrs the train passes through BONN, the headquarters of the West German Government, shortly afterwards you will pass through the French Sector of Germany and leave it at approximately 01:30 hrs when the train enters the United States sector.
5. Throughout the night the train will, for the most part, be running alongside the Rhine River. The banks of the river are covered by miles of vineyards but you will see none of this as by daybreak the course of the river turns east whilst the railway continues towards the south-east.
6. On the second day of the rail journey you will pass through AUGSBERG (08:02 to 08:42 hrs) and MUNCHEN (MUNICH 09:53 to 10:17 hrs). This latter place was the well-beloved city of Adolph Hitler and the scene of early struggles of the Nazi party. During the war it suffered great damage for its notoriety.
7. TRAUNSTEIN, the second ablution halt, is reached at 12:01 hrs and the train departs at 12:46 hrs allowing ample time for you to be refreshed.
8. The border station between GERMANY and AUSTRIA is FREILASSING which is passed at 13:10 hrs and you arrive at SALZBERG in the American zone of Austria ten minutes later at 13:20 hrs. SALZBERG is famous for its many fine buildings and its Musical Festival.
9. BAD GASTEIN, where last seasons army ski championships were held, is a winter resort of world wide renown and you will pass here at 15:55 hrs.
10. At BOCKSTEIN the train leaves the American zone by passing through the Tauem Tunnel. The tunnel is a masterpiece of engineering being 12 kilometres (approx 8 miles) long and driven through the sheer rock.
11. On emerging from the tunnel you will be in the BRITISH zone of Austria and you will be nearly 4000 feet above sea level. The railway line from here (MALLNITZ 16:16 to 16:25 hrs) almost to SPITTAL (17:16 hrs) is out on the mountain side and some of the best scenery in Austria may be seen from the train.
12. The train arrives at VILLACH SEEBACH at 18:35 and all other ranks will detrain and proceed to 316 Transit Camp for an evening meal and the issue of a haversack breakfast. The officers will stay on the train and move on to VILLACH Main Station to detrain from where they will go to the Post Hotel for dinner.
13. The train departs VILLACH again at 21:25 hrs with the officers on board, returns to VILLACH SEEBACH and takes on the other ranks. Departure from SEEBACH will be at 21:55
14. At 23:35 hrs the train arrives at the AUSTRIAN/ITALIAN border, the Station being TARVISIO and after being checked will depart at 00:46 hrs.
15. This will now be your third day and you are coming to the end of the journey. During the night you will progress into NORTHERN ITALY and will be awakened early to partake of tea from containers and to eat the haversack ration breakfast.
16. TRIESTE. At 04:30 hrs you must be ready to detrain and then proceed to the ship for embarkation.
17. The following points may be of interest to you during the journey and no doubt will answer some of your questions.
A) The rail journey is over 920 miles
B) You will be travelling approximately 37 hours including necessary train halts.
C) You will receive all meals on the train with the exception of the evening
meal of the second day which will be supplied at 16 Transit Camp for other ranks
and in the hotel for officers.
D) Beer on the scale of one bottle per man may be purchased in the Dining Car
during lunch and dinner meals only. A bar is available for officers in the Officers
Diner Car. All liquor must be consumed in the Diners and NOT taken to the compartments.